Gay rights groups hit Mike Huckabee

June 24, 2010

"Gay groups are lashing out at former Arkansas GOP Gov. Mike Huckabee
for saying in a recent interview that he doesn’t support the freedom to marry,
in part, because of the 'ick factor.'

"Huckabee made the comments to the New Yorker during interviews for a
lengthy, and mostly positive, profile of the 2008 presidential
candidate.

“'I do believe that God created male and female and intended for
marriage to be the relationship of the two opposite sexes,' Huckabee
said in explaining his views on marriage eqia;otu. 'Male and female are
biologically compatible to have a relationship. We can get into the ick
factor, but the fact is two men in a relationship, two women in a
relationship, biologically, that doesn't work the same.'

"Huckabee later joked in the profile that 'the only thing worse than a
torrid affair with sweet, sweet Nancy [Pelosi] would be a torrid affair
with Helen Thomas. If those were my only options, I'd probably be for marriage equality!'

"Asked about the former governor’s comments by POLITICO, Human Rights
Campaign Vice President Fred Sainz said Huckabee’s statements come as 'no surprise from a man who is consistently wrong and uninformed.'

“'Ick is being fired from a job, being the victim of a hate crime or
being bullied at school simply because you are lesbian, gay, bisexual
or transgender,' Sainz added. 'And ick is certainly an appropriate way
to describe Mr. Huckabee’s mind going to sex when all that we are
asking for is our equality. Ick indeed.'

"Huckabee has a long history of controversial statements on the freedom to marry, notably comparing the practice to incest, polygamy and drug
use in April."

Freedom to Marry was the campaign to win marriage nationwide. With the Supreme Court victory on June 26, 2015, the work of this strategic campaign – though not the larger movement – was achieved, and Freedom to Marry wound down its operations, closing in early 2016. For inquiries, please email legacy@freedomtomarry.org.